The biggest issue with soloing AV's is maintaining endurance and sustained DPS. I don't think SS/SR will be good at that. SS/SR is a monster, but I think there are better AV killers.
If you are only worried about killing AV's then maybe try EA as your secondary. It gets a bad rap, but once you soft cap your defense it is a very solid set and you will never run out of endurance.
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The biggest issue with soloing AV's is maintaining endurance and sustained DPS. I don't think SS/SR will be good at that. SS/SR is a monster, but I think there are better AV killers.
If you are only worried about killing AV's then maybe try EA as your secondary. It gets a bad rap, but once you soft cap your defense it is a very solid set and you will never run out of endurance.
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Thanks for the response.
Yeah that's pretty much what I was thinking. It wasn't really that I was only concerned with the AV killing, but after realizing the full potential of this SS/SR compared to my other brute (crappy elec/elec) whom I know couldn't even consider going against an AV , I was just curious if an SS/SR could as something else to play with.
I love my SS/SR he feels super brutish! 
And I've also been considering trying a /EA at some point in time. I know it gets a bad rap, but it always seemed MOSTLY good..
Can't be nearly as bad as /elec!
50s:
White Valkyrie - BS/Regen Scrap
Fear of Silence - Ninja/Dark MM
Corporate Zombie - Necro/Poison MM
Ardent Cataclysm - Stone/Fire Tank
Angelic Heart - Peacebringer
Maelstrom - Elec/Elec Brute
Novastar - Energy/Fire Blaster
I have soloed my way through a few of AVs with my SS/EA. The rage crash can be made not so bad with some damage procs in jab/gloom/haymaker and use of Vet powers since neither procs or vet powers have their damage gutted from the Rage crash.
The biggest problem is aquiring all the needed IOs to cap an /EA Brute's defenses
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I have soloed my way through a few of AVs with my SS/EA. The rage crash can be made not so bad with some damage procs in jab/gloom/haymaker and use of Vet powers since neither procs or vet powers have their damage gutted from the Rage crash.
The biggest problem is aquiring all the needed IOs to cap an /EA Brute's defenses
[/ QUOTE ]
Care to share the Ss/EA build that can solo? Just curious if you've got it. I wonder if somehow I can adapt something a little to a second build for ss/sr.. I never thought about the procs.. Hrm..
50s:
White Valkyrie - BS/Regen Scrap
Fear of Silence - Ninja/Dark MM
Corporate Zombie - Necro/Poison MM
Ardent Cataclysm - Stone/Fire Tank
Angelic Heart - Peacebringer
Maelstrom - Elec/Elec Brute
Novastar - Energy/Fire Blaster
I never did the build on Mids but I can list the power selections
Jab
Haymaker
KO Blow Rage
Footstomp
Taunt(needed for sets)
Kin shield
Power Shield
Entropy Shield
Dampening Field(for +3% def IO)
Energy Cloak
Energy Drain
Overload
Pools:
Hasten/SS
CJ/SJ
Stimulant/Aid Self
Hurdle/Health/Stamina
My current build has Mu Lightning still in it from a PvP build but Gloom is usually the best choice to up DPS for AV fights. the -recovery portion acts as a debuff that not only halts recovery but makes using aidself worse than the DoT from gloom.
The build has no purples because to achieve the defenses needed without getting tough/weave I couldnt fit any so it only offers 50% global rech mostly due to LoTG procs. 1900 HP(HPT is only +hp accolade) normally and 3000+ w/ Overload running.
Defenses are:
46 to smash/lthl
45 fire/cold
49 Nrg
42 to Neg Nrg
14% to psi
Hrm.. I may have to play around with what you've got there and see what I can piece together. If I don't know what I can do besides pick up fighting in order to get the +res proc, but if I could get rid of it that'd be great.
My first build I had tough and weave, but with some small changes I was able to get rid of weave to increase my endurance recovery vs. consumption.
I may have to play with that a little bit, though I imagine energy makes it easier since endurance consumption is a lot less of an issue since you can always suck it back.
50s:
White Valkyrie - BS/Regen Scrap
Fear of Silence - Ninja/Dark MM
Corporate Zombie - Necro/Poison MM
Ardent Cataclysm - Stone/Fire Tank
Angelic Heart - Peacebringer
Maelstrom - Elec/Elec Brute
Novastar - Energy/Fire Blaster
[ QUOTE ]
The biggest issue with soloing AV's is maintaining endurance and sustained DPS. I don't think SS/SR will be good at that. SS/SR is a monster, but I think there are better AV killers.
If you are only worried about killing AV's then maybe try EA as your secondary. It gets a bad rap, but once you soft cap your defense it is a very solid set and you will never run out of endurance.
[/ QUOTE ]
and of course hitting av's that primarily use the attacks that /ea has holes too
dm/sr is probably the least expensive to build efficient and successful av soloer possible for all of the av's villains face, with fm/sr a close second
I'd imagine SS/SR can solo AVs, the big concern is endurance. Smashing damage is fairly resisted, so fights will be long, and you do have that Rage crash killing your DPS for 10 seconds and also draining endurance. I suspect you'll want +recovery uniques and heavy endurance slotting but as long as you get to the point where you don't run out of endurance (the 10 second break during the Rage crash will actually help there) and you softcap defense you can do it.
Cascade, level 50 Blaster (NRG/NRG since before it was cool)
Mechmeister, level 50 Bots / Traps MM
FAR too many non-50 alts to name
[u]Arcs[u]
The Scavenger Hunt: 187076
The Instant Lair Delivery Service: 206636
I havent played my SS/SR in sometime, but when I did definitely a monster. I tried to solo requiem in the ITF, but my team showed up and ruined that. I had him to half health though. It was the build here, except I didn't have the damage procs in it. I may get back on and try again though. Anyone know any arcs villain side with an AV or two?
Villain Plan by Mids' Villain Designer 1.401
http://www.cohplanner.com/
[u]Click this DataLink to open the build![u]
Scarlet Recluse2.1: Level 50 Magic Brute
Primary Power Set: Super Strength
Secondary Power Set: Super Reflexes
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Medicine
Power Pool: Fighting
Villain Profile:
Level 1: Jab -- Zinger-Dam%(A), T'Death-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(3), T'Death-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(3), T'Death-Dmg/EndRdx(5), T'Death-Dmg/Rchg(5), T'Death-Dam%(7)
Level 1: Focused Fighting -- RedFtn-Def/EndRdx(A), RedFtn-Def/Rchg(7), RedFtn-EndRdx/Rchg(9), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(9), RedFtn-Def(11), RedFtn-EndRdx(17)
Level 2: Punch -- T'Death-Dmg/EndRdx(A), Zinger-Dam%(11), T'Death-Dmg/Rchg(13), T'Death-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(13), T'Death-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(15), T'Death-Dam%(15)
Level 4: Haymaker -- T'Death-Acc/Dmg(A), T'Death-Dmg/EndRdx(17), T'Death-Dmg/Rchg(19), T'Death-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(19), T'Death-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(21), T'Death-Dam%(21)
Level 6: Focused Senses -- RedFtn-Def/EndRdx(A), RedFtn-Def/Rchg(25), RedFtn-EndRdx/Rchg(27), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(27), RedFtn-Def(29), RedFtn-EndRdx(29)
Level 8: Agile -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(50), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(50)
Level 10: Practiced Brawler -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 12: Knockout Blow -- Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(A), Mako-Dmg/Rchg(31), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx(31), Zinger-Dam%(31), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(33), Mako-Dam%(33)
Level 14: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(23), RechRdx-I(23)
Level 16: Dodge -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(25), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(46)
Level 18: Swift -- Run-I(A)
Level 20: Health -- Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(A), Mrcl-Rcvry+(43), RgnTis-Regen+(43), Numna-Heal(43), Mrcl-Heal(45), Numna-Heal/EndRdx(45)
Level 22: Stamina -- P'Shift-EndMod(A), P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg(39), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc/Rchg(39), P'Shift-Acc/Rchg(39), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc(40), P'Shift-End%(45)
Level 24: Rage -- GSFC-ToHit(A), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg(33), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg/EndRdx(34), GSFC-Rchg/EndRdx(34), GSFC-ToHit/EndRdx(34), GSFC-Build%(37)
Level 26: Evasion -- EndRdx-I(A), LkGmblr-Rchg+(46), LkGmblr-EndRdx/Rchg(46), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(48)
Level 28: Lucky -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(48), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(48)
Level 30: Aid Other -- Heal-I(A)
Level 32: Aid Self -- Mrcl-Heal/EndRdx(A), Mrcl-EndRdx/Rchg(40), Mrcl-Heal/Rchg(40), Mrcl-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(42), Mrcl-Heal(42), Numna-EndRdx/Rchg(42)
Level 35: Foot Stomp -- Sciroc-Acc/Dmg(A), Sciroc-Dmg/EndRdx(36), Sciroc-Dmg/Rchg(36), Sciroc-Acc/Rchg(36), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(37), Sciroc-Dam%(37)
Level 38: Quickness -- Run-I(A)
Level 41: Boxing -- Empty(A)
Level 44: Tough -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(A), EndRdx-I(50)
Level 47: Weave -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 49: Super Speed -- EndRdx-I(A)
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- T'Death-Dam%(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Heal-I(A)
Level 1: Fury
------------
[u]Set Bonus Totals:[u]<ul type="square">[*]19.5% DamageBuff(Smashing)[*]19.5% DamageBuff(Lethal)[*]19.5% DamageBuff(Fire)[*]19.5% DamageBuff(Cold)[*]19.5% DamageBuff(Energy)[*]19.5% DamageBuff(Negative)[*]19.5% DamageBuff(Toxic)[*]19.5% DamageBuff(Psionic)[*]6.13% Defense(Smashing)[*]6.13% Defense(Lethal)[*]8.31% Defense(Fire)[*]8.31% Defense(Cold)[*]6.75% Defense(Energy)[*]6.75% Defense(Negative)[*]6.13% Defense(Psionic)[*]9.25% Defense(Melee)[*]10.5% Defense(Ranged)[*]13.6% Defense(AoE)[*]5% Enhancement(Heal)[*]40% Enhancement(RechargeTime)[*]9% Enhancement(Accuracy)[*]10% FlySpeed[*]269.9 HP (18%) HitPoints[*]10% JumpHeight[*]10% JumpSpeed[*]MezResist(Held) 11.6%[*]MezResist(Immobilize) 16%[*]10% (0.17 End/sec) Recovery[*]62% (3.88 HP/sec) Regeneration[*]2.52% Resistance(Fire)[*]2.52% Resistance(Cold)[*]3.13% Resistance(Negative)[*]10% RunSpeed[/list]
Willpower has more passive regen than Regen does. Who thought that was a good idea?
Can we get a fix for Energy Melee instead of more new sets?
You'd be better off with Fire/SR, both performancewise and budgetwise
I slotted a few 4 slotted sets of Gift of the Ancients, to help my endurance, on my SR brute. It seemed to really help, combined with the endurance accolades.
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You'd be better off with Fire/SR, both performancewise and budgetwise
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This. Fire Melee is better at ST DPS which is key for AV fights. SS is a good set but not the best for soloing AVS. Two immediate cons that come to mind are the damage type (all smashing) and the Rage Crash, which can eat up your endurance and decrease your surivivability on a defense based toon.
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You'd be better off with Fire/SR, both performancewise and budgetwise
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This. Fire Melee is better at ST DPS which is key for AV fights. SS is a good set but not the best for soloing AVS. Two immediate cons that come to mind are the damage type (all smashing) and the Rage Crash, which can eat up your endurance and decrease your surivivability on a defense based toon.
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Super strength is capable of generating the DPS to kill most AVs, given gloom in the attack chain. And footstomping spawns to death, while being able to eat /any/ elite boss for breakfast, is very nice.
You're never going to be the /best/ single target, or the best AoE, but being tied for second best in both, is really nice.
It's also more than doable with inspirations.
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Super strength is capable of generating the DPS to kill most AVs, given gloom in the attack chain.
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I disagree ALOT. Fire Melee can use Gloom as well, plus it's less resisted damage type makes it much better for AVs whom typically have S/L resistance.
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And footstomping spawns to death, while being able to eat /any/ elite boss for breakfast, is very nice.
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Footstomp is not the greatest tool in the world for AV encounters. Its perfect for mobs but since this thread is about soloing AVs, who cares about Footstomp.
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You're never going to be the /best/ single target, or the best AoE, but being tied for second best in both, is really nice.
It's also more than doable with inspirations.
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Not sure what you're getting at in these posts. Fire Melee is superior to SS for ST DPS but inferior to SS for AoE since BoF is a terrible power IMO.
Since we are discussing soloing AVs, Single Target damage is much more important than AoE.
That, and a great deal of AVs have smashing resistance which really dampers SS in that area
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Super strength is capable of generating the DPS to kill most AVs, given gloom in the attack chain.
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I disagree ALOT. Fire Melee can use Gloom as well, plus it's less resisted damage type makes it much better for AVs whom typically have S/L resistance.
[ QUOTE ]
And footstomping spawns to death, while being able to eat /any/ elite boss for breakfast, is very nice.
[/ QUOTE ]
Footstomp is not the greatest tool in the world for AV encounters. Its perfect for mobs but since this thread is about soloing AVs, who cares about Footstomp.
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You're never going to be the /best/ single target, or the best AoE, but being tied for second best in both, is really nice.
It's also more than doable with inspirations.
[/ QUOTE ]
Not sure what you're getting at in these posts. Fire Melee is superior to SS for ST DPS but inferior to SS for AoE since BoF is a terrible power IMO.
Since we are discussing soloing AVs, Single Target damage is much more important than AoE.
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I never meant to imply that SS was superior to fire melee in killing AVs. It's not. Fire melee definitely has superior single target damage in that respect.
However, it is worth noting that the majority of scrapper damage dealers are lethal or smashing as well. They only recently got fire melee over there, and yes, it's quite useful along with dark. Yet martial arts, katanas and claws scrappers are capable of generating the sustained DPS needed to take down AVs.
With Gloom in the attack chain and adequate recharge, (which super reflexes will ensure), Super Strength is more than capable of achieving 200+ DPS. In fact, the addition of Gloom alone, IIRC, ensured that optimal brute attack chains were uniformly better than scrapper attack chains. The nature of an AV fight also favors the fury mechanic. Smashing is also less resisted than lethal is (not by much, but it's worth pointing out).
So yes. SS/SR is perfectly viable for soloing AVs, which is what this thread is about. The fact that you can still be viable, while being able to generate great AoE damage as well, is simply icing to take into consideration. Afterall, we're looking at 'viable' builds, not "OMG TEH BEST AV SOLOER EVER WITHOUT INSPS". I think the latter builds are so specialized, as to be meaningless. And if it were that important, everyone should be ill/rads killing GMs.
But yes. You will have an easier time generating the needed ST DPS with fire. And I think both FM/SR and SS/SR are great, and if I was concerned with soloing AVs more than anything else, I'd choose FM. But if I wanted to be great at other things too, I'd choose SS.
AV fights tend to be very long when you solo them and I wonder if SS/SR can keep up the continuous attacking without running out of endurance.
SS is an end hog and SR doesn't have any endurance management tools to fill the blue bar back up. So, how long can you maintain the fight and is it long enough?
[ QUOTE ]
AV fights tend to be very long when you solo them and I wonder if SS/SR can keep up the continuous attacking without running out of endurance.
SS is an end hog and SR doesn't have any endurance management tools to fill the blue bar back up. So, how long can you maintain the fight and is it long enough?
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That's the real question, when it comes to SS/SR
Conceivably however, depending on slotting choices, it should be quite possible. Slot Gift of the Ancients instead of Red Fortune, (pick up that recharge in other places), get as much recovery and +end as you can, a performance shifter proc, miracle, numina's +recov/+regen. You have endless places to slot a LOTG, so you should be able to be more creative in your slotting decisions instead of obsessing on recharge. And it is not terribly difficult to softcap. I was softcapped by 39, and I could've done it much sooner, but was content with 40-42% for a while.
There's alot of room in a SS/SR build, to go after end/recovery pretty heavily. All the accolades help to.
Is it expensive? Sure. Would it be THAT expensive, compared to a billion inf build? Not at all. Quite viable.
But I would say that if you don't have 500+ million inf around, and alot of free time, you really shouldn't be concerned about Ironman soloing AVs...Right?
EDIT: To put it in perspective, given normal slotting and such, (appropriate set bonuses, +end, etc), even 4 moderate recovery bonuses (+2%), can more than pay for a defense toggle. I have four Gifts of the Ancient, each with +2% recovery and +1.8% endurance, along with a few other things as I mentioned above, and I can't remember when my endurance bar was below half. I just delete blues these days. Four GOTA will give you the full defense boost, and drop most any toggle to about .16 a second. And you can slot a Def/7.5% to run as well, which is neat, packed onto quickness.
I do not have any purples, either. Just your basic run of the mill 500 mill inf build stuff, like LOTGs, etc. If I wanted to solo AVs without any temp or insp help, instead of plowing through TFs or farming, I'd shift some stuff about, sure. But I can definitely see it being 'viable'.
As far as I'm concerned as a player, I'm the mother effin Destined One, and it's a fair fight with them as EBs, and no insp use. I don't care about them as AVs, (without just dropping a nuke on em) because it reminds me of LOTR, where to artificially create a challenge, they would have many parts of the map designed for teams, with even piddly little goblins capable of destroying you, that needed a whole team to fight.
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However, it is worth noting that the majority of scrapper damage dealers are lethal or smashing as well. They only recently got fire melee over there, and yes, it's quite useful along with dark. Yet martial arts, katanas and claws scrappers are capable of generating the sustained DPS needed to take down AVs.
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It's also worth noting that AVs redside are *significantly* harder than AVs blueside (Neuron, Marauder and Bobcat are pansies compared to Synapse, BAB and Mynx for example) so comparing them to scrappers is a moot point. With SS you simply will NOT be able to solo any AVs with a defensive tier 9 or a self heal, which might as well be the majority of the AVs redside. That's why FM isn't only slightly better than SS, it's significantly better (both in DPS and DPE).
If you want to be a mediocre AV soloer while still being able to do lots of AoE damage then by all means go with SS, but keep in mind that FM/SR also does very respectable AoE damage with a Quicken'd FSC
Redside ? Blueside ? People still stick to sides for AVs, after the AE? That is so 2008... 
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However, it is worth noting that the majority of scrapper damage dealers are lethal or smashing as well. They only recently got fire melee over there, and yes, it's quite useful along with dark. Yet martial arts, katanas and claws scrappers are capable of generating the sustained DPS needed to take down AVs.
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It's also worth noting that AVs redside are *significantly* harder than AVs blueside (Neuron, Marauder and Bobcat are pansies compared to Synapse, BAB and Mynx for example) so comparing them to scrappers is a moot point. With SS you simply will NOT be able to solo any AVs with a defensive tier 9 or a self heal, which might as well be the majority of the AVs redside. That's why FM isn't only slightly better than SS, it's significantly better (both in DPS and DPE).
If you want to be a mediocre AV soloer while still being able to do lots of AoE damage then by all means go with SS, but keep in mind that FM/SR also does very respectable AoE damage with a Quicken'd FSC
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FM/SR is an amazing combo, and anyone will benefit from playing it, and if your major concern were soloing hard targets, I would definitely choose it.
I was just making the case for 'viable'.
Well somewhere along the way either the point I was making was either unclear or just lost..
I've got an SS/SR.. He's a boat load of fun to play. He's level 50 now. I certainly enjoy him probably more than any of my other 50's.. So I'm just exploring other things I could do with him, hence the, is soloing AV's viable.
I don't care that X primary is better at doing it. I just really was seeing if it's worth investing my time trying to figure out an AV soloing build.
Endurance is somewhat an issue but something that can be played around with.. As it stands my brute isn't TOO far off from having next to 0 endurance issues. I assume tossing in the +recov proc may be the slight boost I need at this point.
So we'll see.
But yeah, the purpose wasn't to see what to choose to be an AV soloer, but what else I could do for fun.. For those days when teams are impossible to find..
50s:
White Valkyrie - BS/Regen Scrap
Fear of Silence - Ninja/Dark MM
Corporate Zombie - Necro/Poison MM
Ardent Cataclysm - Stone/Fire Tank
Angelic Heart - Peacebringer
Maelstrom - Elec/Elec Brute
Novastar - Energy/Fire Blaster
my only suggestions are these:
6 slot KO blow with 5 crushing impact and then add in either recharg/end reduction IO or a straight end recudtion. KOB blow eats crazy end.
Maybe steer clear of hasten? I have a fire/ss tank with hasten and the Rage and Hasten crashes combined are painful even with combustion. You can run up pretty good recharge numbers, so ask yourself if you really need it.
Just my 2 cents, hope it helps
InidiousX - lvl 50 Ill/Rad Controller
Black-Talon - lvl 50 DM/SR Scrapper
Night-Blade - lvl 50 Katana/Dark Screapper
Bone-Shredder - lvl 50 SOA
Red-Phantom - lvl 50 Elec/SR Brute
All on Champion!
[ QUOTE ]
You'd be better off with Fire/SR, both performancewise and budgetwise
[/ QUOTE ]
i dunno about that. i've done the math on the end drain both with inexpensive attack chains and super e xpensive 3 power attack chains, and it's pretty expensive to build a fm/sr that wont have endurance problems for a long fight like an AV
Hello,
I've got a SS/SR brute I'm making in order to eventually port over once going rogue comes.
Anyway, I'm curious about the viability of ss/sr for AV soloing.
I tried to do a rikti pylon which for a while I was doing fine and slowly ticking away at it's health, but I wasn't paying attention right and missed an aid self and met my dimise.
Plus I also was sucking endurance at that time, which I've since invested in a numina's with the plans to also get a miracle tossed in too.
This is all without any purples at this time, I may possibly throw some in at some other point, I just can't afford them at this point in time.
Now I know the smash damage is rather resisted, and there's some longer animations in SS, but it seems the slightly longer animation of KO blow seems to make up for itself by dealing 700-800 damage with rage running.
The problems I see is:
Rage crash = 10 sec of crap damage which is 10 sec of AV regen = bad
Aside from KO blow, the other damages aren't terrible but still more resisted than if I had chose DM or something.
But DM I've done, so this is something different.. Viable or not?
Either way.. SS/SR once you can get past most of the end issues is a freakin blast!
50s:
White Valkyrie - BS/Regen Scrap
Fear of Silence - Ninja/Dark MM
Corporate Zombie - Necro/Poison MM
Ardent Cataclysm - Stone/Fire Tank
Angelic Heart - Peacebringer
Maelstrom - Elec/Elec Brute
Novastar - Energy/Fire Blaster